Amy Chater

Solicitor - Court of Protection

What’s your role?

I am a Solicitor in the Vulnerable People and Court of Protection team.

I specialise in helping individuals who don’t have the mental capacity to manage their own financial affairs and/or make their own decisions about their health and welfare. This assistance might be through registering an Enduring Power of Attorney once mental capacity has been lost or is decreasing, or applying for Deputyship for a lay Deputy or professional Deputy to take over the decision making responsibility for the individual. Part of my role is doing registrations and applications. I also, along with other members of the team, look after the day to day running of Deputyships which varies from ensuring bills are paid to making decisions on complex issues such as the sales of assets.

I also help vulnerable clients and their families who might need advice and assistance on deprivation of liberty and safeguarding issues and questions on care home or social care fees to help ensure the individual is getting the right care and treatment from the NHS or the Local Authority.

Your experience?

I qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 2002 and worked for a number of years as a Community Nurse in London.

Having successfully undertaken a Masters Degree in Medical Law and Ethics and completed my legal training at a regional law firm, I qualified as a Solicitor in 2010. I qualified into the firm’s Clinical Negligence department and subsequently moved to a mid-market firm in Oxford.

Whilst working on clinical negligence matters, I undertook complex and varied litigation, often working with vulnerable individuals and those without capacity.

In July 2017 I joined Coffin Mew’s specialist Court of Protection team where I am now able to use all my skills and knowledge accrued over the years of working to ensure that the welfare of vulnerable individuals, and those without capacity, is protected and managed on a day to day basis

Which five words best describe you?

Kind

Reliable

Organised

Optimistic

Hard working

Three things we didn’t know about you?

I lived and worked in New Zealand for a year. Whilst I was there I did one of the world’s largest bungee jumps. New Zealand was amazing but the bungee jump was awful!

I was very involved with the Venture Scouts as a teenager and was awarded the Queen’s Scout award, one of the highest awards in Scouting.

My northern roots mean I love nothing more than donning my rain coat and wellies on a wet day and stomping in muddy puddles with my two children.